Manufacture of envelopes

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a novel method of manufacturing longitudinally-grained envelopes from a web of paper moving in the direction of its longitudinal grain axis which comprises severing the web to form envelope blanks, changing the direction of travel of the blanks by approximately 90*, notching the web or the blanks and finally folding and sealing the shaped blanks to form the completed envelopes.

United States Patent [:91

Simpson et al.

I45] Sept. 4, 1973 MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES [75] Inventors: John WilliamSimpson, Garston;

Arthur John Mayo, St. Albans, both of England [73] Assignee: JohnDickinson & Co. Limited,

Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, England [22] Filed: May 27, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 147,467

[52] U.S. Cl 93/63 M, 93/63 R [51] Int. Cl B3lb 23/60 [58] Field ofSearch 93/63 M, 63 R, 61 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Winkler et al. 93/63 M9/1969 Volks et a] 93/63 R 7/1942 Krueger 93/63 M X PrimaryExaminer-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan Att0rney.l.Wesley Everett [57] ABSTRACT The invention provides a novel method ofmanufacturing longitudinally-grained envelopes from a web of papermoving in the direction of its longitudinal grain axis which comprisessevering the web to form envelope blanks, changing the direction oftravel of the blanks by approximately 90, notching the web or the blanksand finally folding and sealing the shaped blanks to form the completedenvelopes.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 4 I975 3.756.127

JOHN WILLIAM SIMPSON ARTHUR JOHN MAYO INVENTORS 1 MANUFACTURE OFENVELOPES This invention relates to a method of manufacturing envelopes,and more particularly to envelopes of the so called Pocket or Openended" style. The aforesaid terms are used in reference to envelopes ofrectangular shape in which the closure flap is disposed along one of theshorter edges thereof. I It is known to produce such envelopes,hereinafter designated envelopes of the kind referred to, from acontinuous web of paper by shaping the closure and bottom flaps by meansof notching cutters acting upon opposed lateral edges of the web, thesame said notching cutters also shaping two opposed edges of each sideflap, and thereafter effecting separation from the web of individualblanks by transverse cuts separating adjacent side flaps of twosuccessive blanks. The side flaps are thereafter folded over one uponthe other and secured together at their overlapped marginal edges by anadhesive stripe, the bottom flap then being folded over and secured tothe body of the envelope on the rear face thereof. The closure flap maybe folded over or left open as desired.

By another known method of producing envelopes of the kind referred to,the side flaps are formed longitudinally of the web by cutting notchesinwardly of the lateral edges of the web, the side flaps so formed beingfolded over and secured together along their overlapped marginal edges.Separation of individual envelope blanks is thereafter effected,following which the closure and bottom flaps of each envelope are formedby suitable cutting devices and folded over upon the body of theenvelope as required.

By the previously known methods of manufacture two main disadvantagesexist. These are:

a. According to the first mentioned known method, the envelopes soproduced have the grain of the paper extending transversely or crosswiseof their length.

b. According to the second known method the envelopes so produced havethe grain of the paper extending lengthwise thereof, but are subject tosevere limitations in respect of both size and style.

In the manufacture of envelopes from a web of paper drawn from a reel,the grain of the paper extends longitudinally of the web, and it isparticularly advantageous in the production of envelopes of the kindreferred to, that the grain of the paper be maintained lengthwise of theenvelope, i.e., perpendicular to the open end thereof. Among theadvantages to be gained are (1) closure flap curl after gumming isreduced to an absolute minimum (2) a generally stronger envelope results(3) an envelope of superior appearance is produced.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved method of producing envelopes of the kind referred to whichovercomes the aforesaid disadvantages, and which permits the manufactureof such envelopes having greatly improved qualities.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturinglongitudinally grained envelopes from a web of paper moving in thedirection of its longitudinal axis which method comprises severing theweb to form envelope blanks, changing the direction of travel of theblanks by approximately 90, notching the web or the blanks before andafter the change of direction and finally folding and sealing the shapedblanks to form the completed envelopes.

One edge of the web is notched before the severing operation and thesevered blanks are again notched after the change of direction. Aftersevering, it is generally desirable to increase the speed of travel ofthe blanks relative to that of the web :so that they are suitably spacedapart for subsequent machine operations.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the followingparticular description which is accompanied by the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sequence of operations for producing envelopes ofthe kind referred to by the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an envelope adapted for sealing with self-sealing adhesive.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified sequence of operations.

In FIG. 1 there is shown diagrammatically a sequence of operations forproducing envelopes of the kind re ferred to having their side flapsformed so as to produce side seam pockets."

According to this arrangement a web of paper or like material 1 is drawnform a reel 2 and passed along a horizontal path in the directionindicated by the arrow, at a uniform speed. At a suitable position inthe travel of the web, a cutting station indicated generally at 3 isarranged to cut notches 4 form a lateral ege 5 of the web, each pair ofsaid notches forming between them the configuration of one of the sideflaps 6 of the envelope, i.e., the narrow side flap. The cutter formingthe side flap 6 will also remove the edges of the closure and bottomflaps 12, 13.

Following the formation of the side flap 6, the web passes to a severingstation where by a transverse cut 7, sections are separated therefromforming partially formed blanks 8. After severance from the web 1, thepartially formed blanks 8 are speeded up to space them apartsufficiently to conform to the speed of subsequent machine operations.The spacing of the blanks indicated by the gaps 9 is determined by therequirements of the subsequent operation which involves a change indirection of travel of the partially formed blank 8. Accordingly thepartially formed blank 8 is moved through an angle of relative to itsinitial path of travel and then conveyed to a further flap shapingstation indicated generally at 10, where the wider side flap 11 and theremainder of the closure and bottom flaps respectively 12, 13 are shapedby means of suitable cutting devices.

Crease lines or other lines of weakening 14 are applied at a suitablestage or stages in. the manufacture of the envelope, these lines ofweakening facilitating the subsequent folding of the various flaps. Atsuitable positions in the travel of the blank 8 adhesive is applied tothe longitudinal marginal edge of one of the side seam flaps 6 or 11 andto the bottom flap 13 of the envelope, for securing the flaps togetherafter folding. The adhesive for the closuring of the envelope may beapplied to the web at spaced apart intervals and then dried prior tosubsequent operations or alternatively applied and dried at any suitablestage after the formation of the blank 8. The method may include theprovision of envelopes of the kind referred to, having their closureflaps adapted for sealing by heat and pressure or self-sealingadhesives. If the self-sealing adhesive be latex, then as shown in FIG.2 two co-operating stripes of adhesive 15, 16 may be applied to theenvelope. More than one stripe of such adhesive may be applied to eachco-operating surface of the envelope if so desired.

The method according to the present invention may also embody suchsubsidiary features as printing, window cutting and patching etc., theseoperations being carried out at suitable positions in the travel of theweb and/or severed blank.

It will of course be appreciated that the cutting stations 3 andemployed in the shaping of the side flaps 6, 11, could quite well bearranged on sides of the web and blank opposite to those shown inFIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3 the notching of the short side flap 6 iscarried out at the cutting station indicated generally at 3a andfollowing the severance of the web to form the blanks 8 and the changeof direction of their travel as previously described, the blanks areconveyed to the second side flap cutting station indicated generally at100. The bottom flap which in the modified arrangement may occupy theposition shown by 13, is then folded o er adhesively secured to the bodyof the envelope. The closure flap 12 may subsequently be folded overupon the body of the envelope or if desired it may remain in theunfolded condition.

It will be appreciated that the methods particularly described aboveproduce envelopes whose grain lies lengthwise of the envelope, i.e.,perpendicular to the open end thereof. This means that closure flap curlafter gumming is reduced to an absolute minimum, a generally strongerenvelope is produced and the appearance of the envelope is enhanced.

We claim:

1. A method of manufacturing longitudinally grained side-seam envelopeseach having a large and a small back wall flap, which method comprisesthe following steps in the given sequence:

a. advancing a web of paper in the direction of its longitudinal grainaxis,

b. shaping the small back wall flaps by notching one edge of the movingpaper web,

c. severing'the moving web along lines which pass through the saidnotches so as to form envelope blanks,

d. increasing the speed of travel of the blanks relative to the web toseparate them from each other,

e. changing the direction of travel of the blanks by approximately f.shaping the large back wall flaps by notching the moving severed blanks,and

g. folding and sealing the shaped blanks to form the completedenvelopes.

* l I. II

1. A method of manufacturing longitudinally grained side-seam envelopeseach having a large and a small back wall flap, which method comprisesthe following steps in the given sequence: a. advancing a web of paperin the direction of its longitudinal grain axis, b. shaping the smallback wall flaps by notching one edge of the moving paper web, c.severing the moving web along lines which pass through the said notchesso as to form envelope blanks, d. increasing the speed of travel of theblanks relative to the web to separate them from each other, e. changingthe direction of travel of the blanks by approximately 90*, f. shapingthe large back wall flaps by notching the moving severed blanks, and g.folding and sealing the shaped blanks to form the completed envelopes.